From the Sidelines: Project provides much needed progress
Sports reporter
There was some poor officiating in the Jan. 31 boys' basketball game between Marion High School and Smoky Valley that warranted a rant-and-rave column.
In the end MHS came out on top 46-45, and there is another issue circulating Marion that is more important.
The current bond issue that would bring USD 408 a new gymnasium, auditorium, and the city a new indoor (sort of outdoor) pool, takes precedent.
But that doesn't make the terrible officiating any better.
Anyway, USD 408 voters will have the chance April 4 to decide if this is the direction the school district should take.
A yes vote would be heading in the right direction, and a no vote would be like ignoring one of those "wrong way" signs on the highway.
Minimal progress only keeps you the same. In other words, with inflation, technology, and the growth of the world in general, small progress only keeps you on pace, large process keeps you ahead of the game, and stagnancy actually puts you behind.
The tired complaint of taxes is growing older than time itself. The beautiful thing about this project is the tax mill levy will not increase. The current nine-year bond of the middle school construction and the elementary school expansion will be paid off in time to roll into this 18-year bond.
Some naysayers of the project say if this fails, the mill levy will go down.
Please, when was the last time that happened? Taxes always are there. It's like the price of gas, it's only staying the same or going up. Would they rather have the mill levy stay the same and spend the money on busing students to a consolidated school 10 years from now?
That's what could happen if this town does not progress, even a little.
It happens all the time in small towns across the country. Marion is not dead, but it could use some help like this project.
Housing values always could go up, meaning taxes could be higher, but that is unavoidable, keeping the mill levy the same is not, and that is what the school district plans to do.
USD 408 has shown in the past it operates on a high level and Superintendent Lee Leiker, who is now is his second year, has shown he believes in Marion and would love to see it thrive.
His family had no connection to Marion before moving here. Now he, along with the seven school board members, are making this a top priority.
These additions will only bring the level of USD 408 activities up to par with the level of academics.
In a town that loves its sports, and produces great music and fine arts students at the rate of a 6A school, doesn't this only make sense?
The money these facilities would bring into the town by hosting tournaments and special events can only help it grow.
It might even be able to pay for some better officiating.